A Birthday Basket for Tia

A Birthday Basket for Tia is

• a fairy tale

• realistic fiction

• nonfiction

• fantasy

The main setting of the story was

• at Cecilia's home.

• in Mexico.

• outside at a park.

• at a fiesta.

In the beginning of the story

• there is a party for Tia.

• Cecilia eats breakfast.

• Cecilia hides the basket in the closet.

• Cecilia tells us it is a special day because Tia is ninety years old.

The problem in the story is

• Cecilia wants to give her Tia a present and doesn’t know what to give her.

• Cecilia wants to fill the piñata with treasures for Tia.

• Chica keeps getting in the basket and bothering Cecilia.

• Tia is getting old and can’t walk very well.

We know that Cecilia is

• happy, because she loves to swing.

• grumpy, because the party is not for her.

• smart, because she remembers everything.

• thoughtful, because she gathers things she knows Tia will love.

In the middle of the story

• Cecilia bakes cookies with Chica’s help.

• Mama helps Cecilia and Chica look for things to put in the basket.

• Tia is at the house helping prepare for the party.

• Cecilia gathers things that remind her of Tia to put in a birthday basket.

The order the items go in the basket is:

• mixing bowl, book, tea cup, flowerpot, red ball, flowers.

• book, mixing bowl, flowerpot, tea cup, red ball, flowers.

• book, flowers, flowerpot, soil, seeds.

• book, flowerpot, tea cup, red ball, mixing bowl, flowers

The solution to Cecilia’s problem was

• to gather things that held memories for both Cecilia and Tia to put in the basket.

• to have musicians at the party for Tia because she loved to sing.

• to dance with Tia.

• to fill the piñata for the party because Cecilia loves sweets.

At the end of the story

• Tia sips mint tea and sings sweet songs.

• Tia surprises Cecilia by dancing without her cane.

• Tia pushes Cecilia on the swings.

• Tia bakes bizcochos for the family.

The central message of this story is

• always treat your mother well.

• parties are fun to plan and fun to go to.

• a gift should come from the heart, not the pocketbook.

• keep your cat out of birthday gifts!